Jekyll and Hyde
Petra Lyrics


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By Bob Hartman
Based on Rom. 7:15

I have a secret that I let nobody see
An evil shadow that's been hanging over me
My alter ego that I try to hold at bay
But despite my good intentions he can always get away
He does the things that I don't want to do

Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde
Two men are fighting a war inside

I have this secret that I let nobody see
It's like a split personality
And the one I feed is the one who lives
The one I starve will be the one who gives

He won't do things that I know I should do

Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde
Two men are fighting a war inside
One gives, one takes, I have to decide
Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde

I need somebody to rescue me
When personalities clash
I know which person I want to be




With no defiance
Just God-reliance

Overall Meaning

In Petra's song Jekyll And Hyde, the lyrics revolve around the concept of a person having a split personality, which they struggle to control. The alter ego is described as an evil shadow that the person tries to hold at bay, but it can always get away. This is a clear reference to Robert Louis Stevenson's novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, where the singer struggles with his dual identity. The lyrics suggest that the alter ego does things that the person doesn't want to do and that the split personality is like a secret that nobody sees.


The song's chorus expands on this idea, describing the internal conflict that the person is experiencing. They feel like two men fighting a war inside, and they have to decide which side to feed. The lyrics also suggest that the side that is "fed" is the one that lives, and the side that is "starved" is the one that gives. This highlights the struggle between good and evil that the person is experiencing.


Ultimately, the song suggests that the person needs someone to rescue them from the internal conflict. The lyrics suggest that with God's reliance, the person can overcome their struggles and decide which person they want to be. The song's message is both introspective and hopeful, urging listeners to look within themselves for the strength to overcome their own struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

I have a secret that I let nobody see
I have a hidden persona that I keep from the world


An evil shadow that's been hanging over me
My hidden persona is filled with malevolent traits that burden me


My alter ego that I try to hold at bay
My alternate personality that I attempt to restrain


But despite my good intentions he can always get away
But despite my efforts, my hidden persona always surfaces


He does the things that I don't want to do
My hidden persona commits actions that I'm opposed to


Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde
Sometimes I feel like I have two different, conflicting personalities


Two men are fighting a war inside
Two opposing personas are struggling within me


I have this secret that I let nobody see
I have a hidden personality that I keep from the world


It's like a split personality
It's similar to having a dissociated identity


And the one I feed is the one who lives
The hidden persona I nourish and act upon is the one that dominates


The one I starve will be the one who gives
The hidden persona I neglect will be the one that resurfaces


He won't do things that I know I should do
My hidden persona refrains from actions that I know are appropriate


One gives, one takes, I have to decide
The personas either contribute or detract, and I must choose which one to act upon


I need somebody to rescue me
I require aid to overcome my internal struggles


When personalities clash
When my personas are in conflict


I know which person I want to be
I understand which version of myself I aspire to be


With no defiance
Without resistance


Just God-reliance
Dependent only on God for support




Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: ALANIS NADINE MORISSETTE, GUY SIGSWORTH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Ngim meru Vlogs

I have a secret that I let nobody see
An evil shadow that's been hanging over me
My alter ego that I try to hold at bay
But despite my good intentions he can always get away

He does the things that I don't want to do

Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde
Two men are fighting a war inside

I have this secret that I let nobody see
It's like a split personality
And the one I feed is the one who lives
The one I starve will be the one who gives

He won't do things that I know I should do

Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde
Two men are fighting a war inside
One gives, one takes, I have to decide
Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde

I need somebody to rescue me
When personalities clash
I know which person I want to be
With no defiance
Just God-reliance



All comments from YouTube:

Mr. Gólya

OK guys, i'm an atheist, but this song is freakin' heavy, especially the lyrics.
Rock n' roll!

Keith

@Seamus O'Neill what makes the song christian is that christians wrote and performed it

Seamus O'Neill

Literally the only part in the entire thing that makes the song “Christian” is the line “with no defiance, just God-reliance”… other than that it’s just a song about the ongoing inner battle between your better and worse self, which is just a part of the human experience.

HOLD

No judgment here bro, btw anthrax is awesome!

Bia K D S

Petra rocks you should listen to their music 🤩 it’s power

MAGNETO

Even for an atheist, the message in this song is so powerful and the struggle is real!

Michael Davidson

glad my dad raised me with good music like this! im 16 and love this! u wont find many like me! haha this is a classic! love it!

Dennis B -Trains

Ever hear skillet or ledger?

shelby medina

Hey im 23

Nancy Kent

Glad

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